The Underwear Tree

We've spent the last few weeks getting really serious about potty training. Tate has responded well, and after two weeks of frustration came two weeks of success! He still wears pull-ups at bedtime, but he's a pro at keeping his undies clean and dry during the day. A result of this potty training has been Tate's unusual attachment to his underpants. He especially likes his Buzz Lightyear pairs. He's been known to carry them around the house, take them to bed with him, and arrive at a soccer game with a pair in each hand. Today he was in the backyard with me while I was watering the flowers when he decided he needed to help me. I told him to go put his underpants down and I turned around and to see that he had found a special place for them. (This dead bush/tree was going to be dug out and done away with, but I think the underwear give a nice look, don't you?)

This is my big, potty-using boy. Yeah!!

I bribed Tate with a Twinkie to get him to sit still and smile for this picture. I think it turned out pretty cute. While Tate's been busy learning all about potty usage, Tori has been growing like weed. At her two month appointment she weighed 11 lb 15 oz (75%)and was 22 1/2 inches long (50%). She also rolled over for the first time last night. These kids are growing up too fast.

Tate and Tori with Grandpa and Grandma, also known as "The Spoilers". These two grandparents are so generous it's really getting ridiculous. Thanks for all you guys do for us!

This is what I call bliss: Daddy putting both kids (and himself) to sleep :)

Cute Pic

I had to post this picture my mom got of Tori on Sunday. She's actually smiling!!!

Tori's Blessing Day

A baby comes,

a household hums,

love welcomes

sweet perfection.

A prayer ascends,
the Lord extends
His blessings
and protection.

Yesterday we blessed Tori and spent a wonderful day with our family. Tori looked so pretty in her blessing dress. I bought this dress only a few weeks after I found out we were having a girl. I was shopping with my mom and sister when we found it and I just loved it. It has been hanging in her closet waiting for her for months. I think it was a perfect fit.

A few weeks ago I ran all over town looking for a pair of frilly socks so I had to include a picture that showed her feet. (Sorry she looks kinda angry in this one)

Happy family. Man, I love these two kids! And my hubby!

This picture is one of my favorites. Tori surrounded by a just a few of her cousins. Look at these adorable future mothers! They just had to be around the baby, stroking her cheeks, playing with her hands, telling her how pretty she was. They were so cute!

What a cute, little face! (Couldn't you just squeeze those cheeks?!) Of course I couldn't get her to smile like this while she was in her blessing clothes, but I'll take this one anyway. Thank you to all of our awesome family that celebrated this special day with us. We love you!!

Easter Fun

Happy Easter! (A few days late) We celebrated this weekend with the traditional coloring and hunting of the eggs, and, of course, getting all dressed up in our Easter best to attend church. (First time back since the baby was born. Missed most of Sacrament meeting due to an urgent feeding, followed by blow-out cleanup)

While we were coloring eggs I tried to explain to Tate the real meaning behind Easter. It's kind of a difficult concept for a two-year old to grasp and I think he is now just extremely confused. Something happened to Jesus because he loves me, there's hard-boiled eggs that we dip in colored water, some sort of scarey, ginormous bunny breaks into my house to hide plastic eggs, and, the saving grace of the whole holiday, the plastic eggs contain candy.

Chubby Bubby

Tori is now 3 weeks old. She had her two week check up last week which confirmed my suspicion that this girl knows how to pack on the pounds. She was up to 8 lb 15.5 oz, which puts her in the 70th percentile. She was also 20 3/4 inches long, which is the 65th percentile. So our girl is definitely getting chubby. I love it!

Tate, Tori, and Daddy, just hanging out.

So serious. Tori is starting to smile a little bit, but they are so few and far between that I haven't caught one on camera.

This is how Tate spent conference weekend. Watching movies while we all watched the prophet.

This picture was taken just this morning. I got up the nerve and took both kids grocery shopping with me! It was a daring adventure that actually turned out quite well. I got every item on my list, Tori slept quietly in the frontpack, and Tate downed lots of snacks while "driving" in the front of one of those carts that looks like a truck. While I unloaded all of the groceries from the car, Tori was laying on the floor and was starting to get a little fussy. I finished unloading, and then headed upstairs to get her and I found Tate laying by her, blanket thrown across both them, saying "It's okay Tori, it's okay." So cute :)

Cute Pics

Tori is now ten days old!! Time flies by way too quickly. She's practically a toddler. Okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but why do kids have to grow up so fast??

One of the most fun parts about baby number two is seeing how baby number one interacts with her. Tate is so cute with her most of the time (he has his moments). He likes to help burp her, give her a binky (even if she doesn't want it), and get in on all the pictures mom is taking.

Oh. The other most fun part about baby number two is that she is a little girl with lots of cute little clothes and bows. Sooo much fun to dress her every day.

I particularly love this outfit. Too bad we're cooped up in the house during a blizzard so nobody gets to see her in it. Thank goodness for the magic of blogs.

Love this little face!

Tate also shares his blankey with Tori every once in a while. Which shows me that he really must love her. Usually he piles it right on her face, but mom prefers the sharing that's going on in this picture.

Punctuality

We try to instill good values and positive attributes in our children. But there is one trait that both of our babies came into this world already possessing: puncutality. Our little girl was born Friday, March 13, 2009 at 7:08 pm. Right on her due date just like her big brother. Her arrival was fast and furious, but also wonderful and amazing. (Call me if you want the details) She weighed 7 lb 10 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. She is beautiful, if I do say so myself, and, as of a few hours before we left the hospital, she officially has a name: Tori Kathleen Handley. Here are some photos of her first few days.

Mom and Tori not too long after delivery. What an incredible feeling to finally have our little girl here.

Dad, Mom, and Tori.

Tori and big brother, Tate. I love the look on his face! I don't think he felt as excited as he looks because it was way past his bed time. But he really is such a sweet older brother. (As I was posting this he saw her picture and said, "Ooooh. There's my baby!"

Aunt Andrea and Tori. I have a feeling this girl will learn a lot of girly tricks from her Aunt.

Tori Kathleen Handley. What a sweetheart!

Full body view. We love this baby girl!!

"Precious one, so small, so sweet,

Dancing in on angel feet,

Straight from heaven's brightest star,

What a miracle you are!

Little sunbeam, come to earth,

How heaven smiled to bless your birth,

And how the morning shines like new,

To see a lovely child like you."